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Santa Cesarea is very
famous above all for the presence of the thermal baths, that each year attract
many visitors.
The waters that gush out from four caves (Fedida, Solfatara, Gattulla and
Solfurea) can cure a lot of illnesses. According to an ancient legend the
sources gushed out from the rotten bodies of the giants "Leutemi", that Hercules
killed with the his enormous cudgel. At Santa Cesarea you can also see some
ancient noble residences as Sticchi Villa, that is very peculiar because it
looks like a mosque. As it happened at Santa Maria di Leuca, some rich
noblemen built their summer residences here and they competed with each other to
build the most eccentric and luxuriant villa. The Mother Church, dedicated to St
Cesarea, was built after an improbable event, according to which a young woman
ran away from her house to escape from her father, since he had to abuse her.
She took refuge into a cave and suddenly the earth opened and it swallowed her
and from her pure body the precious thermal waters gushed out. On the main
façade of the church there is a
well decorated rose window and a beautiful front door. The protectress of the
small town is St Cesarea, that is celebrated solemnly on September 11th.
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